The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism on March 14, 2024.
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March 14, 2024, 1:01 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 229 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism
Sen. Lynn DeCoite, Chair
Sen. Glenn Wakai, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: COMMENTS IN SUPPORT FOR HB2354 HD1 — RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD
Aloha Chair DeCoite, Vice-Chair Wakai and other Committee members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its comments in support of HB2354 HD1, which would allow the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to comment on proposed legislation at the request of a small business owner.
The Small Business Regulatory Review Board was established in 1998 to represent the interests of Hawaii entrepreneurs in the executive branch. It functions mainly to review proposed amendments, additions and deletions to the administrative rules of state agencies.
However, it rarely suggests amendments to or opposes new administrative rules,[1] calling into question its efficacy as a defender of small business interests. This might be because few business owners know about the Board.
By expanding the Board’s scope of responsibilities to include legislative input, this bill could help increase the Board’s impact and effectiveness.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “Hawaii Small Business Regulatory Review Board: Annual Report Summary,” Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, 2023, p. 33.
